Space has intrigued people for generations. From the sun to meteor showers, to our own moon, space is vast and puzzling. Our own sun challenges us every day to figure out its mysteries. The Solar Dynamics Observatory is a NASA mission dedicated to observing the sun and how it affects Space Weather. The study of … More Genna Duberstein

The Blue Marble, the picture that sparked the modern environmental activism movement. By showing our Earth in a completely new perspective, it gave people a new appreciation to this place we call home. The movement inspired thousands of people around the globe to start taking leadership, including the first African woman and environmentalist to win … More Wangari Maathai

Everyday, hundreds of thousands of people check the forecasts to find out what the weather might look like for the day or for the week. Weather satellites and the information they provide have become an important part of everyday life for many people around the world. John Coleman, although not an engineer in the production … More John Coleman

Meet Bernhard Eduard Fernow, an important figure in the creation of the National Forest Service, the US Forest Service, and forestry education in the United States! Born in Prussia in 1851, Fernow spent several years serving in the Prussian Forest Service before completing his college studies at the Royal Prussian Academy of Forestry in Muenden, … More Bernhard E. Fernow

His family’s name is attached to many wonderful causes and organizations across Wisconsin and the nation, but do you know about Aldo Leopold’s equally famous children and their contributions to conservation and natural resources? This month at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, we are focused on the wonderful world of water and have chosen to … More Luna Leopold

This month we are celebrating ‘What’s Growing’ at ALNC! Each spring brings colorful flowers, but with the flowers comes a delicate balance with insects and animals that help pollinate and disperse seeds. However, many insects and animals may also eat or damage the beautiful blooms in the process—anyone that has ever kept a garden can tell … More Maria Sibylla Merian

Wisconsin is no stranger to bizarre weather throughout the year, and since April is ‘Earth month’ at ALNC it seemed fitting to shine a spotlight on someone who has spent her life trying to explain the connection between weather patterns and global warming. Our April featured scientist, Jennifer Francis, is a professor at Rutgers University’s department of Marine … More Jennifer Francis

This March at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, we are focusing on phenology and all the spring changes happening on our trails. So, while not strictly a scientist, Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862) is our March feature because of his famous record-keeping and interest in natural history. After graduating from Harvard, … More Henry David Thoreau

This month’s featured scientist spent her career studying our February theme–the stars and skies! Beth Brown (1969-2008) was one of many NASA scientists that work in fields like astronomy, astrophysics, climate science, and other technologies to help us better understand our galaxy and universe. Born in Roanoke, Virginia, Brown showed an early interest in science … More Beth A. Brown

This month’s featured scientist is Dr. Robert K. Trench from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Trench retired in 2000 but during his time at UC Santa Barbara he made big waves in the field of oceanography, specifically in the study of coral reefs. In fact, Robert Trench earned the reputation as the world’s leading expert … More Robert K. Trench